Royston First United Methodist Church

“May the Lord judge between me and you! May the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.” – 1 Samuel 24:12

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Samuel 21-25

It would have been so easy for David! As he found himself hiding in the cave, Saul – the man who has been chasing him and trying to kill him – walks in to thecave and is presented vulnerably before David. David could have eliminated the threat and lived with peace knowing that Saul was no longer chasing him. It would have been easy!

Yet David does not take the easy way. Instead, David spares the life of Saul. Why did David do this? Perhaps David enjoyed the game of cat and mouse that he and Saul were playing. Or maybe David did not feel right killing a man who was so vulnerable. Maybe David wanted the fight. I’m sure some these answers may carry some sliver of truth, but I do not believe any of these answers help us understand why David spared Saul’s life. So why did he do it?

Because David loved God. David loved God, and David knew that loving God means loving others – especially those whom God has anointed, such as Saul. So David chooses not to kill Saul, but to spare the life of Saul. David chooses to bring no harm upon the man who is trying to kill him.

How many times do we find ourselves quick to seek vengeance against those who have wronged us? Confession: my struggle is when I am driving. Where do you take the easy way and allow anger to take root in your heart? Where do you struggle with “getting what’s yours,” no matter the cost? Perhaps God is speaking to all of us in the same way that God spoke to David. Perhaps God is more concerned with how we love God and love others rather than whether we get what we deserve. After all, because of Jesus, none of us truly get what we deserve. Don’t you think we can extend that grace to others, as well. 

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and we get to be with one another again in virtual worship. The service will premiere at 10:15 AM on Sunday morning on our YouTube page (more information is available below). You DO NOT WANT TO MISS THE BEGINNING OF THE SERVICE! At the end of the service, we will share in Holy Communion together. I am including a link for guidelines for sharing the Sacrament of Holy Communion online.

Have an amazing weekend and I look forward to being with you in virtual worship beginning at 10:15 AM this Sunday!

Grace and peace,
Matt

P.S. Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. I know this year is different, but we can still pause to reflect on what Holy Week means to us. This year, I have invited five of my friends and colleagues in ministry to share a message with us each day of Holy Week at 12 PM (more information is listed below). I hope you will grab a lunch and join us on Facebook Live as we journey to thecross this week in preparation for the celebration of Easter next Sunday.